The new order includes 10 A350 widebody aircraft and 90 single-aisle A320 Family planes. Combined with the 40 A350s and 210 A320 Family aircraft ordered in 2023, Air India’s total commitment to Airbus now stands at 344 aircraft, making it one of the largest airline orders in the industry. The airline has already taken delivery of six A350-900s, with A350 operations commencing in January 2024, marking the debut of this advanced widebody jet in the Indian market.

 

Driving Transformation and Growth

Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, highlighted the significance of this expansion:

“With India’s passenger growth outpacing the rest of the world, its significantly improving infrastructure and an aspirational young population increasingly going global, we see a clear case for Air India to expand its future fleet. These additional 100 Airbus aircraft will help position Air India on the path to greater growth and contribute to our mission of building Air India into a world-class airline that connects India to every corner of the world.”

 

The A350’s advanced design offers a 25% advantage in fuel burn, operating costs, and COâ‚‚ emissions compared to older aircraft, alongside 50% lower noise levels. Meanwhile, the A321neo—Airbus’ flagship single-aisle aircraft—brings enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, making it a cornerstone for Air India’s fleet modernisation and sustainability goals.

 

Partnership with Airbus Flight Hour Services (FHS-C)

Air India has also signed a Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) contract with Airbus to support its growing A350 fleet. The agreement provides fully integrated component services, including on-site stock at Delhi, access to Airbus’ regional spares pools, and repair engineering services.

 

This partnership guarantees maximised aircraft availability and reduced maintenance costs, vital for Air India’s operational efficiency. Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, expressed his enthusiasm:

 

“Through this continued partnership, we are committed to supporting the success of Air India’s ‘Vihaan.AI’ transformation plan under Tata’s vision and leadership.”

 

The Bigger Picture

Air India’s ongoing fleet expansion aligns with its broader “Vihaan.AI” transformation strategy, aimed at positioning the airline as a global leader. The order and services agreement reflect the airline’s commitment to operational excellence, sustainability, and customer-centric growth.

 

With cutting-edge aircraft and enhanced maintenance capabilities, Air India is poised to elevate its presence on international routes, further solidifying its role as a bridge between India and the world.